Sounders FC Signs First Homegrown Player

Sounders FC has signed 19-year-old Seattle native DeAndre Yedlin, who played the past two seasons for the University of Akron after graduating from the Sounders FC Academy system following the 2010-11 season.

RENTON, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC has signed defender DeAndre Yedlin, the club announced today. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms were not disclosed. Yedlin is the first Homegrown Player signed by Sounders FC in franchise history.

"We are thrilled to sign DeAndre as our first Homegrown Player,” said Owner and General Manager Adrian Hanauer. “Darren Sawatzky and Dick McCormick deserve much of the credit, as they have developed a top academy program for Sounders FC. Hopefully DeAndre is the first of many local players who will come through our system and wear the rave green at the professional level."

Yedlin, 19, played for the University of Akron the past two seasons after graduating from the Sounders FC Academy system following the 2010-11 season. Yedlin, a Seattle native who attended O’Dea High School, was honored on the All-MAC First Team in his two seasons with the Zips and was named a College Soccer News Freshman All-American in 2011.

“It’s amazing to start my professional career in a place where I started playing soccer in the first place,” said Yedlin. “I’m excited to be able to perform in front of all the fans. It’s the best place to play in the United States—one of the best in the world I think. It’s very exciting for me.”

Yedlin appeared in all 45 games for Akron over the past two seasons, making 41 starts. He finished his collegiate career with 12 assists, including six assists last season, ranking third on the team. The right back served four assists during a five-match stretch in 2012 and recorded four game-winning assists in his freshman season.

Prior to his collegiate career, Yedlin was a starter for Seattle’s O’Dea High School and the Sounders FC Academy team. Yedlin was invited to the U.S. Soccer U18 Men’s National training camp and the 2010 SuperElite International Showcase. He participated on the ODP state team from 2006-09 and was named to the USSDA 93 Academy Select Team in 2009 and 2010. Yedlin was ranked seventh in the nation among all 2011 recruits by Top Drawer Soccer and was ranked 12th by College Soccer News.